UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC Sells 49,201 Shares of American Financial Group, Inc. $AFG

Key Points

• UBS AM has reduced its stake in American Financial Group by 9.8% to approximately $59.27 million, currently holding 451,250 shares.
• Significant increases in holdings have been made by several large investors, including Charles Schwab Investment Management, which boosted its position in AFG by 395.5%.
• American Financial Group recently reported an EPS of $2.14 for the quarter, exceeding analysts' expectations, despite revenues falling short of estimates at $1.65 billion.

UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC lowered its holdings in American Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:AFG - Free Report) by 9.8% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 451,250 shares of the insurance provider's stock after selling 49,201 shares during the period. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC owned about 0.54% of American Financial Group worth $59,267,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of AFG. United Services Automobile Association purchased a new position in shares of American Financial Group during the 1st quarter valued at $583,000. Sciencast Management LP purchased a new stake in American Financial Group during the 1st quarter worth about $281,000. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. lifted its holdings in American Financial Group by 8.3% during the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 707,682 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $92,947,000 after purchasing an additional 54,204 shares in the last quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp lifted its holdings in American Financial Group by 145.8% during the 1st quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 1,278 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $168,000 after purchasing an additional 758 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Millennium Management LLC lifted its holdings in American Financial Group by 166.7% during the 1st quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 280,012 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $36,777,000 after purchasing an additional 175,015 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 64.37% of the company's stock.

American Financial Group Price Performance

Shares of American Financial Group stock traded up $2.16 during trading on Thursday, hitting $141.20. 203,502 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 496,807. The company has a quick ratio of 0.47, a current ratio of 0.47 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33. The stock has a market cap of $11.77 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.52 and a beta of 0.73. The firm's fifty day moving average is $131.54 and its 200-day moving average is $127.58. American Financial Group, Inc. has a 52 week low of $114.73 and a 52 week high of $150.19.

American Financial Group (NYSE:AFG - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 5th. The insurance provider reported $2.14 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.08 by $0.06. The firm had revenue of $1.65 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.77 billion. American Financial Group had a return on equity of 17.41% and a net margin of 9.21%.The company's revenue was up 1.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $2.56 EPS. Research analysts expect that American Financial Group, Inc. will post 10.5 EPS for the current fiscal year.

American Financial Group Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, July 25th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, July 15th were paid a $0.80 dividend. This represents a $3.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, July 15th. American Financial Group's payout ratio is 35.16%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on the company. Jefferies Financial Group upped their target price on American Financial Group from $125.00 to $130.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research note on Monday, August 11th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods decreased their target price on American Financial Group from $127.00 to $124.00 and set a "market perform" rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, August 12th. Finally, Wall Street Zen upgraded American Financial Group from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Saturday, September 13th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating, Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $136.75.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other American Financial Group news, Director Stephen Craig Lindner, Jr. sold 10,000 shares of American Financial Group stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $134.31, for a total value of $1,343,100.00. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 326,730 shares of the company's stock, valued at $43,883,106.30. The trade was a 2.97% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 17.40% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

American Financial Group Profile

American Financial Group, Inc, an insurance holding company, provides specialty property and casualty insurance products in the United States. The company offers property and transportation insurance products, such as physical damage and liability coverage for buses and trucks, inland and ocean marine, agricultural-related products, and other commercial property and specialty transportation coverages; specialty casualty insurance, including primarily excess and surplus, executive and professional liability, general liability, umbrella and excess liability, and specialty coverage in targeted markets, as well as customized programs for small to mid-sized businesses and workers' compensation insurance; and specialty financial insurance products comprising risk management insurance programs for lending and leasing institutions, fidelity and surety products, and trade credit insurance.